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Spain’s Eurovision Boycott Puts It on ‘the Right Side of History’, Says PM

People attend a song protest concert against Israel at the Maria Theresien Square in the city center of Vienna, Austria, during the 70th Eurovision Song Contest week, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP)
People attend a song protest concert against Israel at the Maria Theresien Square in the city center of Vienna, Austria, during the 70th Eurovision Song Contest week, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP)
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Spain’s Eurovision Boycott Puts It on ‘the Right Side of History’, Says PM

People attend a song protest concert against Israel at the Maria Theresien Square in the city center of Vienna, Austria, during the 70th Eurovision Song Contest week, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP)
People attend a song protest concert against Israel at the Maria Theresien Square in the city center of Vienna, Austria, during the 70th Eurovision Song Contest week, Friday, May 15, 2026. (AP)

Spain's boycott of the Eurovision song contest over Israel's war in Gaza puts it "on the right side of history", Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on Friday, ahead of the final in Austria.

"In the face of illegal war and also genocide, silence is not an option. And we cannot remain indifferent to what continues to happen in Gaza and in Lebanon," Sanchez said in a video message posted on X.

"This year, therefore, will indeed be different. We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history."

Spain is one of the top financial contributors to Eurovision, the international song contest organized by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Israel's KAN public broadcaster is in the EBU, so Israeli acts participate in the event.

Spain is boycotting the event this year along with Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia over Israel's conduct in the war in Gaza, which was launched in retaliation for the October 7, 2023, attack in Israel by the Palestinian movement Hamas.

The countries' position reflects a view that Israel reacted with disproportionate deadly force against Gaza's civilian population.

The International Criminal Court in 2024 issued an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Nethanyahu on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Israel's offensive, including by intentionally targeting civilians and using starvation as a method of war.

Sanchez, in his video, drew a parallel with Israel's war in Gaza and Russia's war on Ukraine.

"When Russia invaded Ukraine, it was excluded from the contest and Spain supported that decision," he said.

He added: "Those principles must also be applied when we talk about Israel. There cannot be double standards."

The Eurovision finals typically reach more than 150 million viewers around the world. Israel's act will be among those competing in the competition on Saturday.

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Entertainment

Celine Dion Wows Paris Fashion Week with Surprise Gig

Celine Dion performs during a public show named "Express Your Worth", organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal at Place Joffre during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 28, 2026. (Reuters)
Celine Dion performs during a public show named "Express Your Worth", organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal at Place Joffre during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 28, 2026. (Reuters)
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Celine Dion Wows Paris Fashion Week with Surprise Gig

Celine Dion performs during a public show named "Express Your Worth", organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal at Place Joffre during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 28, 2026. (Reuters)
Celine Dion performs during a public show named "Express Your Worth", organized by French cosmetics group L'Oreal at Place Joffre during Paris Fashion Week in Paris, France, September 28, 2026. (Reuters)

Celine Dion kicked off Paris Fashion Week in style on Monday, stepping onto the catwalk beneath the Eiffel Tower and belting out "I'm Alive" to a delighted crowd in a surprise performance.

The Canadian superstar took to the runway at the end of L'Oreal's annual show, emerging in a sleek black gown to rapturous applause at one of the fashion calendar's most glamorous openings.

Smiling with her hair loose, the singer performed her 2002 hit before being joined by a star-studded cast of L'Oreal ambassadors including Viola Davis, Simone Ashley, Aja Naomi King and Eva Longoria.

The Quebec-born star recently launched a much-publicized return to the stage with a 26-show run in the French capital, with 16 set for September and October and a further 10 planned for May 2027.

Paris Fashion Week, dedicated to women's spring-summer collections, runs until October 6.

With Dior, Tom Ford, Schiaparelli and Givenchy still to unveil their latest creations, Dion could yet be spotted in the front row of some of the season's biggest shows.

Entertainment

Re-Released ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Snaps-up N. America Box Office Lead

This image released by Marvel Studios shows a scene from "Avengers: Endgame." (Marvel Studios/Disney via AP)
This image released by Marvel Studios shows a scene from "Avengers: Endgame." (Marvel Studios/Disney via AP)
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Re-Released ‘Avengers: Endgame’ Snaps-up N. America Box Office Lead

This image released by Marvel Studios shows a scene from "Avengers: Endgame." (Marvel Studios/Disney via AP)
This image released by Marvel Studios shows a scene from "Avengers: Endgame." (Marvel Studios/Disney via AP)

"Avengers: Endgame" dusted competitors in the North American weekend box office, as the 2019 superhero film was re-released in a bid to drum up support for the franchise.

The film holds the title of the second-highest grossing film ever, after earning $2.8 billion, driven by an ensemble cast including Robert Downey Jr., Josh Brolin and Scarlett Johansson.

Over the weekend, the encore presentation of the Walt Disney film took in $26 million in North America, for a global total of $86 million, according to estimates by Exhibitor Relations, a tracking firm.

The re-release comes ahead of the planned December 18 debut of "Avenger: Doomsday," with audiences eager to see four new post-credit scenes setting up the forthcoming film.

"As a marketing exercise, it's an effective way to build early word-of-mouth," said veteran industry watcher David A. Gross.

Taking second place was Sony's "Resident Evil," with an estimated $23.3 million in North America, for a global total over its first two weeks of over $196 million.

"Heart of the Beast," starring Brad Pitt as a former soldier and his loyal but traumatized combat dog as they survive in the Alaskan wilderness, brought in an estimated $20 million on the continent for Paramount on its opening weekend.

Also debuting over the weekend was "Primetime," starring Robert Pattinson as reality TV host Chris Hansen. The film is based on a real-life US show from the mid-2000s called "To Catch a Predator" in which Hansen and his production staff lured would-be pedophiles into sting operations where police were waiting to make on-screen arrests.

The film brought in an estimated $19.2 million for A24 over the weekend.

"Forgotten Island" an animated family film, however, underperformed over the weekend, bringing in just $12.8 million for Universal on its opening weekend.

"This is a weak opening for an original animation film from one of the major labels," Gross said, while noting that reviews were overwhelmingly positive.

Entertainment

MTV VMAs Are Here with Taylor Swift Making History, Madonna Leading the Nods

Madonna appears at an awards ceremony on May 4, 2019, in New York. (AP)
Madonna appears at an awards ceremony on May 4, 2019, in New York. (AP)
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MTV VMAs Are Here with Taylor Swift Making History, Madonna Leading the Nods

Madonna appears at an awards ceremony on May 4, 2019, in New York. (AP)
Madonna appears at an awards ceremony on May 4, 2019, in New York. (AP)

The 2026 MTV Video Music Awards are here and Swifties, it looks like the night is already yours.

Earlier this week it was announced that Taylor Swift will receive the inaugural Artist Director Honors, becoming the most awarded artist in VMA history.

Swift is currently tied with Beyoncé for the title of most-awarded musician in VMA history. They have 30 each. Eminem is the male artist with the most VMAs with 15. The new award, which according to the VMAs is meant to recognize artists “whose work behind the camera has expanded the possibilities of music video and advanced the art of visual storytelling,” will bring her total to 31.

She will also debut the music video for her new song, “Patient Zero,” during the award show. Swift directed the visual, which stars Colin Farrell and Dakota Johnson.

“Patient Zero” is also her first single since marrying Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.

Snoop Dogg, a 13-time VMAs nominee and three-time winner, will host. Snoop made his debut on the VMAs stage in 1994. He closed the show in 1999 with Dr. Dre and Eminem and returned for a tribute to the Notorious B.I.G. and again for a performance with Eminem in 2022.

Madonna leads the 2026 MTV Video Music Award nominations. The pop superstar has been nominated in every decade of her musical career. She has 19 competitive MTV VMA wins and in 1986 became the first solo female artist to receive the Video Vanguard Award.

She is up for 11 awards at this year’s ceremony, including video, artist and song of the year, as well as best collaboration, dance, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

Taylor Swift follows with the second-most nominations with nine. She is up for video and artist of the year as well as best pop, direction, art direction, cinematography, editing, choreography and visual effects.

Madonna and Swift are followed by Ariana Grande and Sabrina Carpenter with seven nods each to their names, as well as Bruno Mars, PinkPantheress and Zara Larsson with five. Blackpink’s LISA has four and Shakira, Tate McRae, GENER8ION and Yung Lean are tied for three.

Madonna will open the show. It will mark her first performance at the VMAs in 23 years.

Kacey Musgraves will pay homage to the late, great Dolly Parton. The country music icon, whose soaring vibrato vocals, poignant songwriting and sparkling costumes defined her rise from a log cabin in the Tennessee mountains to the height of stardom and acclaim, died in Nashville of cancer in August. She was 80.

Raye, Sombr and Teddy Swims will pay tribute to George Michael, who died 10 years ago on Christmas Day. He was 53.

It's double duty for Raye, who also will perform solo.

Other performers include GENER8ION with Yung Lean, Shaboozey with Gunna, as well as Lisa and Sienna Spiro.

Alex Warren, Belmont Cameli, Charli xcx, Ciara Miller, David Corenswet, Ella Bright, Isabel May, Jeff Probst, Rachel Dratch, Teyana Taylor, Tyla and Troye Sivan will present.